The cost of chasing

[Jason Foster]

It is often asked of us how much chasing costs. I know I have a thread about this already...but at the moment I can't find it under the search due to the board change. However, this thread is broken down into a hypothetical per hour basis to compare to a possible earnings (if any). Obviously the variables are and will be different for everyone. Gas prices can change, vehicles get different mileage, folks spend more or less for hotels (if at all...such as the local resident chasers).

So...some figures I've run and adjusted for 2011. This is mostly for myself, but one that might be a guide for others:

GAS:
425 miles per day average
9 hours chasing (10am to 7pm) average
22 miles per gallon average on the vehicle
$ 3.25 average price per gallon
--->425 miles / 9 hours = 47.222 miles per hour distance covered / 22mpg = 2.146 gallons per hour
---> 2.15 gallons per hour X $3.25 = $ 6.99 per hour

HOTEL:
$60 per night
9 hours per chase average

-->$ 60 / 9 hours = $6.67

FOOD:
Carryout Solution
$7 per meal
3 meals per day
$21 per day
9 hours average chase per day

--> $21 / 9 = $2.33

Grocery solution
$35 per grocery run
Grovery run one every three days

-->$35 / 3 = $11.67 per day
-->$11.67 / 9 = $1.30

Add:
Looking at some other costs (list not complete...work in progress):

$ 600 Laptop (basic...nothing fancy...not for video editing large files)
$ 120 Power Inverter ~ 400watts
$ 80 GRLevel3 (direct purchase from GR)
$ 40 GPSgate (direct purchase from Franson)
$ 60 USED GlobalSat BU-353 GPS puck (eBay or Amazon)
$ 50 DeLorme StreetAtlas 2011 (direct from DeLorme)
$ 10 Allinhouse subscription PER MONTH (direct from Allinhouse)
$ 30 USED DataCard : U597 or U598 or equiv. (eBay)
$ 60 DataCard service from Verizon, Sprint PER MONTH (direct from supplier)

Communication:
$ 250 Ham Radio & Antenna OPTIONAL (eBay, HRO, Texas Towers, etc.) not a bad idea for even the non-ham...but to just receive.
$ 80 FRS Radio (for those w/out ham lic.)

Media/imaging:
$ 200 Basic Point and Shoot Camera (best buy or other consumer elec. store)
$ 120 Flip Camera (best buy or other consumer elec. store)
$ 700 HDV Consumer grade camera like an HV40 (bhphoto.com)
$ 200 assorted batteries, memory cards, filters, etc.
$ 50 Basic tripod
$ 200 Video editing & Image editing software (basic)

Install:
$ 100 Jotto or similar laptop mount
$ 100 Assorted cables, brackets, cords for permanent installs

 

[Dan Robinson]

An average 5-day chase trip has cost me roughly $850. My range has been $100 to $180 per day solo, not counting oil changes, wear and tear and transit to and from the Plains. Most spring seasons have run me *at least* 3 to 4 thousand on average. That usually includes 2 or 3 Plains trips (ranging from 3 to 6 days each) and 4 to 6 all-day Midwest trips. It has obviously been cheaper living in the St. Louis area as opposed to WV, saving me 1,000 miles and nearly $300 in fuel per round trip.

Fuel: $80/day average (1.5 tanks of gas @ $3/gal), $120 max
Hotel: $65/night average, $85 max

Transit to and from the Great Plains (round trip, by highway):
From WV: 5.3 tanks of gas @ $275
From STL: 2.2 tanks of gas @ $112

Oil change every 3,000 miles while chasing (once every 6-7 chase days): $50

I also left out peripheral items like WxWorx, cell data, etc.

I don't count food costs since they are relatively the same on chase days as they are in everyday life (unless I spring for steak dinners).

Tornadoes are expensive.

 

[David Wolfson]

Big cost not mentioned so far is vehicle depreciation (replacement and repair cost). This runs at least 20 cents per mile for a reliable vehicle, or at least $80 per day. This is why renting can be a good deal if you can swing unlimited nationwide mileage.

Then there's the $10/day or so stay-awake materials like coffee, caffeinated gum, Mountain Dew, Red Bull, etc....

 

[Adam Adkins]

Yes it is true - vehicle damage is the big cost! Last chasing season I did $10,000 worth of damage to our car with some nice 4" stones. Fortunately insurance covered it... but still!

 

[J Tyler]

Laptop mount
External Cellular Antenna
Cellular Amp
I run a dedicated streaming cam mounted to windshield
Ham radio/antenna
Scanner w/roof antenna

And yes, we also put a TON of miles on the Xterra last year chasing. Fluid changes for trans/transfer case/axles/coolant, etc come quick at that kind of yearly milage!

I'm trying to figure out how Bart Comstock affords all those windshields!

 

[Josh Morgerman]

I chase tropical cyclones, so it's a different cost structure than you plains prowlers. I live in California, meaning I have to get on a plane for every chase. Adding up taxis, airfare, car rental, gas, hotels, mobile roaming charges (when I'm chasing outside the USA), and other costs (which can really add up as I start "throwing money" at last-minute problems), I pretty-much just expect to drop around $2,000 per hurricane chase-- a little more or less depending on the factors I cited. If it's less, cool-- but I don't count on that.

 

[Jason Foster]

Josh...yeah...I'll probably do a tropical chase cost thread sometime in the future detailing the WIDE range of costs associated with hurricane chasing. For most, like you and I, costs can get deep fast...and that doesn't even mean outside the US either. It is a completely different structure. $2000 is a decent average. You can certainly go up (or sometimes even down) from there. I know a few the Texas guys here don't mind hitting the Texas coast for some intercepts because the cost is low enough...but once they start looking at LA/AL/MS and on to FL and the east coast....$2000 isn't that far off...not including lost pay for those that have that issue.

I'm just posting this one because I'm still working on my trip back to the plains this season...thought I'd share and open a discussion. I'll probably tie it into my other threads on how to save money too. I still have not done my 2011 Food thread that shows how one can save money, eat healthy and be more energized (and even potty prepared) for the chase this season.

 

[Nicholas_Scherber]

This thread has both been very depressing for me to read yet very helpful. At least now a have a rough estimate as to how much i need to chase this year.

 

[Dave Rennie]

Think of how the costs will go up if the Suez canal gets affected by events in Egypt! My whole budget will go into fuel!